ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses Neri Salvadori, the man and scholar, teacher and friend whom the scientific community owes important works in the tradition of Piero Sraffas revival of the classical economists approach to the problems of value, income distribution, capital accumulation, technical progress, scarce natural resources, economic development and growth. It contains personal reminiscences of one of us, who had the privilege of collaborating with Neri Salvadori over more than thirty years and whose intellectual life is closely interrelated with his. It considers the locus classicus of the respective literature of classical orientation. The book argues that a system with self-managed firms would be consistent with Marx's theoretical edifice even if it should fail to adopt central planning. It also argues that during the period considered, financial regulation evolved from a discretionary to a rules-based regime.
